INS Viraat Has Begun Its Last Journey

After 60 years of sailing across the oceans, aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat is now making her last operational deployment before she is decommissioned.

She entered into service of Indian Navy on May 12, 1987. Prior to being commissioned into the Indian Navy, she had served as the HMS Hermes with the Royal Navy and went on to serve with distinction in the 1982 Falklands Islands War against Argentina. Now she is headed to Vishakapatnam with her full complement of six Sea Harrier fighter jets, Chetak and Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopters to participate early next month in the Navy’s massive International Fleet Review.

INS Viraat is scheduled to arrive in Visakhapatnam by February 4 before she returns to Mumbai for the final time.